Woodhill De Vico April 2024

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Woodhill Residential Estate & Country Club Publications

2024:

VICO

Full Colour, Glossy Magazine with distribution as follows:

• Printed copies hand delivered to each house

• Printed copies available in the Clubhouse, Pro Shop and Conference facilities.

• Digitally sent to all Homeowners, Residents and Golf Members

• Published on the Woodhill Web & Social Media pages.

As the warmth of summer turns to the cool embrace of autumn, our

NEWSLETTER

Full Colour, Glossy Newsletter with distribution as follows:

A4, Full Colour, Glossy Newsletter with distribution as follows:

Digitally sent to all Homeowners, Residents and Golf Members

• Digitally sent to all Homeowners, Residents and Golf Members

on the Woodhill Web & Social Media pages.

• Published on the Woodhill Web & Social Media pages.

CEO Soapbox

Another financial year has ended. When one considers the significant changes and improvements that have been brought about this past year, there should be a great sense of pride in what the team has delivered. Our journey from Good To Great continues unabated.

That said we are acutely aware of the constant challenges we face. The number of matters raised with us receive attention, but not always in the timeframe that some demand.

It is in these times that we realise the broader implications that our economy and associated challenges have on our general well-being; the straw that breaks the camels back. What seem like small issues from an estate perspective are blown up to almost being the end of the world. The aggression and verbal abuse we are subjected to can’t be acceptable, when the team are constantly trying to help but we appreciate that each and every one of us have our own issues that we are dealing with, and this is exacerbated when things in the estate aren’t running to our liking.

Financially the estate is in great health. We set extremely aggressive targets and exceeded all financial targets without the need to “save ourselves from bankruptcy”. Good discipline and cost management has enabled us to spend money on the correct things and remain within the agreed budgets, whilst continually growing our income stream. Successful financial results are the outcome of a disciplined approach and strong work ethic and delivery. I am proud of how the team has delivered on this mandate.

Operationally, we are continuously improving with plenty of activities driving towards enhancing everything across the estate. We recently agreed to outsource our garden operations to an expert in the field, namely, The Garden Group.

This will give us improved garden maintenance and improve the overall aesthetics, with bursts of colour through summer. There is a slight increase in cost for this service, but we are positive this will show solid returns in the short to medium term.

The access control upgrades to include touchless scanning and RFID remote vehicle access at the gates is in progress which should add to the ease, our residents experience when entering the estate. For security reasons the RFID tags in cars will not permit egress of the estate.

Our engagement with City of Tshwane (CoT) continues. We have seen signs of improved collaboration in recent times with various teams attending to the failing infrastructure in the estate. Whilst the activities are not at the expected levels we require, we anticipate this has more to do with CoT budget constraints and lack of finances than with the will to assist.

Our Board of Directors recently approved to commit to assist CoT in procuring materials for us to maintain some of the infrastructure ourselves. We still need CoT to provide us with permission to do this, including providing us with the specifications we need to adhere to. As soon as this permission is granted, we will appoint service providers to attend to the outstanding matters i.e. streetlights, road markings, road signs, potholes etc. etc.

Once we have all the infrastructure working, we will be able to drive CoT to attend to these without having a massive list of service complaints. We also have the direct support of the City Manager, which provides us with an escalation point where matters do not receive the requisite urgent attention we require.

We anticipate this approach will be an ongoing service we will need to provide within Woodhill, or until things improve within CoT.

Our Food & Beverage business continues to make great strides. We would be foolish to think we are perfect and all the challenges we are faced with require intervention to ensure we continuously improve. We do however know that we will never be able to please some people, but fortunately we understand that and will always drive an improved offering from a Price, Quality, and Service perspective.

Padel has been extremely well received and despite the non-cooperative heat waves, has gained a lot of traction and support, especially in the evenings and over weekends. This has improved the lifestyle offering within Woodhill and supports our drive to be the estate of choice.

Overall we remain committed to serving the residents, members, customers and visitors of our beautiful estate and will continue to drive improvements making Woodhill the Estate of Choice.

Woodhill boasts incredible amenities and offerings conveniently on your doorstep!

Access to restaurants, an exclusive world class golf course, tennis, squash & padel courts, boardrooms, conferencing facilities, a medical suite and so much more make Woodhill the best place to live!

Woodhill is more than The Estate of Choice.

Estate Manager

As the first quarter of 2024 has come to an end, we announce that the WHOA has started and is still continuing with various projects, that will ultimately add value to the Estate.

On our journey to greatness, these projects include the outsourcing of the gardens to experts in the field of garden maintenance and design. This will enhance our gardens at the security entrance gates and common areas. We look forward to the positive outcome on this collaboration.

Security of the Estate remains our top priority. XONE Security has set the pace in the past years in securing the Estate, and their proactive approach to detect and deter criminal activity has proven to be of great value.

The WHOA is proud to confirm that we have had no security breaches through our perimeter and security Entrance Gates in the past 9 years - since 2015.

Normal day to day security activities at the Security Entrance gates include, and mostly relevant to the Contractors gate, authentication inspections of contractors’ identification documents, passports, asylum certificates and drivers licenses. XONE Security is focused on ensuring that contractors and visitors documentation is checked and verified prior to entry to the Estate.

In the past year, XONE Security has recorded 593 cases at the Security entrance gates whereby access was denied either due to :

• fraudulent documentation or

• visitors and residents do not follow security protocols when entering and exiting the estate.

Statistics proves how busy the Security Entrance gates are on a daily basis. We have an average of 240 000 entries and exits through the security gates per month. Measured against this number, we are happy to report that we have minimal breakages and incidents at the security entrance gates.

OJansen van Vuuren (em@woodhill.co.za)

ne of the biggest challenges faced on a daily basis, is that of access to the estate by UBER eats and couriers, who arrive at the security gates without carrying the required documents or with unroadworthy vehicles with falsified vehicle license discs.

Residents are informed that when access to such visitors are denied, it is done in the interest of safety and security of all our residents.

We do however apologise for any inconvenience caused when residents are contacted by Security to fetch their food and/ or parcels at the security gates.

We are clear that we will not jeopardise security in any way by giving access to undocumented UBER’s, couriers and contractors.

We trust residents will understand that these precautionary measures is in the best interest of all.

We are pleased with the recent security equipment and system upgrades at the Security gates. These are proving to be very efficient. When it comes to security we are definitely the estate of choice.

All departments involved in our success is commended for a job well done. We will however continue on our journey to constantly measure and improve our processes to maintain greatness.

The WHOA would like to express our sincerest appreciation with residents’ commitment in the upkeep of our estate and welcome any inputs from residents. Ultimately, our inputs will determine our outcomes.

Juan

Security Gate Upgrades

As previously communicated, the Security Access control hardware at the Security Entrance Gates was upgraded. The WHOA wishes to liaise the following information and operational arrangements with residents:

Hardware upgrades include:

1. New touchless biometrics readers (Wave scanners). All Security Entrance and exit gates will be equipped with these (Turnstiles excluded).

2. RFID tag readers which will allow residents to have touchless and automatic entry to the estate by vehicle. For security reasons, these readers will only be installed to the entrance gates. Vehicles will be equipped with these tags and will be fitted to the inside of the vehicle front windscreen by Security. The tags are non-transferable and cannot be removed from a vehicle and placed in another. The tags are dedicated to a specific vehicle registration number. Residents are required to remove the tag from a windscreen when a vehicle is sold and inform the registration office to deactivate the tag. The responsibility thereof lies with the resident / owner of the tag. Residents will sign an indemnity upon acceptance of a tag.

3. New Woodhill Branded access control columns on which the hardware will be attached.

Operational arrangements:

1. The new touchless wave scanners will function with residents’ (Including contractors) current biometrics data. However, residents and contractors will be required to re-enroll their biometrics within a 3-month period from 1 March 2024. Domestic workers and gardeners will continue to use the turnstiles and with the current biometrics’ hardware. The WHOA registrations office will have a dedicated officer assigned to the task during the following hours:

• Mondays to Thursdays 09h00 to 15h00

• Saturdays: 08h00 to 15h00

2. During enrollment, residents’ units will also be updated with the following information:

• Occupants of the unit will be confirmed.

• Cellular telephone numbers of all occupants on a unit will be confirmed.

• E-mail addresses of all occupants on a unit will be confirmed.

• Vehicle registration numbers will be confirmed, and tags will be issued to owners / residents only. Owners / residents will be required to determine whom of the occupants on a unit will be allowed to use RFID (Vehicle) tags. Each user will be required to sign an indemnity. Please be reminded to have vehicle registration numbers available.

Security

AKyle Jacobsen

s we reach the end of the first quarter of 2024 and the start of the Autumn season, we would like to share some general safety and security information with you.

Although it is not concrete evidence, the upcoming weather forecast for Autumn shows a steady normality; compared to the last few months of extreme weather patterns. Autumn, generally indicates a dry period with temperatures cooling down. In the natural environment this is a favourable season for our slithery, snake friends to show up. In the event of a snake encounter, remember these two things:

1. Call the Security Control Room – They will dispatch a Snake Catcher for you.

2. Try (as much as possible) to keep an eye on the snake at all times, until a catcher arrives. This seasonal change, with colder weather, generally also brings up the need for medical treatments, in the forms of Influenza, pollen allergies, increase in bee movements and a variety of other experiences. Whatever the medical conditions, many result in the need for emergency medical attention.

We encourage our residents to keep the Security Control Room numbers on speed dial and in the event of an emergency let us know, so that we can facilitate a medical response unit to you. It is also advisable to make use of your Alarm or Panic System, if it is linked to a service provider. This often leads to a quicker response than looking for a number in your dial list. All the more reason to ensure the alarm systems are in good working order.

From a more direct Security portfolio, the Garsfontein security precinct has reportedly experienced a decrease in criminal activities since the start of 2024. However we must not fall victim to complacency based on statistics. A common threat at the moment is that of theft of motor vehicles (with specificity to public based parking areas).

Some pointers to avoid becoming a statistic:

1. If you arrive in an area and see two or more people loitering nearby to your allocated parking bay, try and get the attention of a car guard or security personnel in friendly banter. This should encourage them to appreciate staying close to your vehicle (Human Behaviour is attracted by positive affirmation after all) and keeping a proactive lookout.

2. Once you have parked, take a few seconds to actively walk around your car, manually ensuring that all doors are locked. Criminal threats are often driven by complacently behaved victims. If you demonstrate a PROACTIVE state of Situational Awareness, criminals will most likely not engage with you. After all, criminals don’t necessarily want to draw too much attention on themselves.

3. When approaching a vehicle, never unlock it from across the parking lot. Make sure you can see as much around the car as possible. For safety sake, take it a step further and approach your vehicle in an angled manner, never directly to the drivers seat.

On a final note, please engage with security personnel, should you hear of or encounter any kind of criminal activity or uneasy experiences. The more information we have, the more intelligence driven platform we can provide back to you.

From The Marketing Office

We have stepped into a promising 2024! Your enthusiasm and support drive us to continually strive for excellence.

At the heart of our community lies the Clubhouse. It is a privilege to host you at the Clubhouse facilities, and we are committed to making 2024 another year to remember.

As we look ahead, our team is hard at work curating a diverse array of events and gatherings to suit all interests and our focus is to offer something for everyone to enjoy.

We highly value your suggestions and feedback and encourage residents to continue sharing ideas with us as we are consistently working to raise standards and exceed expectations.

Keep in touch for upcoming events and activities via any of the social media and other platforms. Should you not be receiving communication from management, kindly reach out to the team.

We are committed to you our residents, your support fuels our passion!

Enjoy the April 2024 De Vico edition.

Boardroom, conferences & function facilities

FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES and stay up to date with all our events at the Clubhouse

Forum

We take pride in offering our residents not just a place to live, but also where you can work, celebrate, and create lasting memories! Our beautiful boardroom, function and banqueting facilities are available to residents. There are various packages available to suit your requirements, please feel free to contact us to make your event a reality.

Khari Hauptfleisch

Woodhill Residents

clubwoodhill

Tennis / Squash bookings

Tennis and Squash bookings can be conveniently made through the Clubmaster application, just like golf bookings. If you wish to become a registered tennis and/or squash member, feel free to reach out to the marketing team. We’re here to help you make the most of your sporting experience!

Corporate Golf Memberships 2024

Advertising Opportunities @ Woodhill

GarsfonteinandStBernardEntranceLEDscreens

To explore the details and discover more about our tailor-made corporate golf memberships, which offer exclusive benefits, including discounted golf days, please schedule a meeting with the team.

Our packages are designed to cater to your specific needs, ensuring great advantages for your corporate experience.

The management of the digital screens at Garsfontein and St Bernard entrances falls under the domain of our marketing department and is primarily dedicated to resident communication. Residents are also encouraged to utilize these screens for advertising purposes. For additional information, please reach out via email to mm@woodhill.co.za.

Woodhill Residential Estate has been an institution for twenty-five years. Woodhill offers incredible amenities and conveniences, right on your doorstep. Our magnificent golf course is rated the 50th best course in South Africa, we have many fantastic dining options and so much more.

The Birthday Bash took place on 20 March 2024, and we will feature all the celebrations in our next publication!

AF&B Manager

Gideon Jordaan

s we embrace the start of Autumn, we need to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our valued guests for their unwavering support throughout the first few months of 2024.

We are very appreciative of the trust you have placed in us and the joy you have brought to our establishment. Your feedback, encouragement, and camaraderie inspire us to continually strive for excellence in providing an exceptional Food and Beverage experience.

We are excited to announce that we launched a QR code scanning system at the 9th and 18th holes, for placing Halfway House orders. It is a convenient and innovative way to enhance the overall experience for players.

It not only saves time but also ensures that players can enjoy their refreshments without any delay once they have completed playing 9 holes. This kind of technology-driven service can greatly enhance customer satisfaction and make the overall golfing experience more enjoyable.

We encourage golfers to utilise these QR code scanning system, to ensure a smooth experience for everyone. Please follow the easy steps below to register your account.

1. Open the camera on your mobile phone.

2. Scan the QR code.

3. Open the bigfoot-it.com link. (This is not an App that needs to download)

4. Input your name, email and phone number in the fields provided.

5. “Click” on the Register Me tab.

6. You will now be able to place your order before starting play on the 9th and 18th holes.

7. You only need to register once, next time just scan the QRcode, input your telephone number, and “click” the search tab.

8. Your details will be populated, and you can just “click” the “continue” tab.

9. When you pick-up your order in Halfway House you can just use your name as reference.

10. Payment will still be made at the Halfway House.

Thank you once again for choosing Woodhill Country Club. Here's to many more enjoyable months ahead.

Bistro@Fevertree

Bistro@Fevertree is available for functions!

This is just one of our many event venues, but certainly one of our best.

With gorgeous views of the estate and fantastic ambiance, this venue is sure to impress your guests!

Well done to Chef Adrian and his team at Bistro@Fevertree for receiving this Reward for Service Excellence.

If you have not dined at Bistro@Fevertree yet; NOW IS THE TIME.

Come and experience the wonderful food and service.

Valentine’sDinnerhostedatBistro@Fevertreeon14February2024

The Terrace

The Terraces’ weekly specials are perfect For meal times! Great food, wonderful ambiance and fantastic prices!

Get down to The Terrace: https://woodhillestate.co.za/the-terrace/

Monthly Lucky Draw AT THE TERRACE

Ticket Sales start at 18h00

Draw at 19H00

Winner must be present to win the Grand Prize

Valentine’sPicnic TheTerrace

14February2024

Registered

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Postal

Contact

VAT

Landline

Mobile

Fax

Approved

Head of Golf

As 2024 is in full swing, anticipation builds for the rest of the year. The introduction of new offerings such as Padel holds the promise of invigorating our Clubhouse atmosphere and attracting increased support. We eagerly anticipate a year filled with vibrant activities and sportsmanship at Woodhill.

We wish to underscore the importance of upholding our clubhouse and golf course dress code standards. In recent times, there has been a noticeable relaxation in golf etiquette compared to previous years.

While fostering a welcoming atmosphere, it also heightens the risk of disregarding our established cultural norms and standards, which undermines the cherished culture and standards of Woodhill. We will be strictly enforcing our dress code policies. Golfers found in attire incongruent with our course standards, will be kindly requested to make appropriate changes. Thank you for your cooperation in preserving the integrity of the Woodhill experience!

You would have observed the removal of sods of grass from the smaller putting green near the Clubhouse. This decision was made to reshape the green, aiming for a flatter surface to enhance the practicing experience for our members. The removed sod will be repurposed, to address the challenges faced by the greens across the golf course. Regrowing the putting green after reshaping will be necessary. We kindly ask for your patience during this process as we strive to offer the finest golfing experience possible.

We have also increased fertilisation across the greens due to the introduction of replanted sods and our efforts to maintain their health.

During 2023 there were many new developments around the club and course that we are proud of. Woodhill still needs to be rated for the 2024 South Africa Top 100 Courses, which should take place at the end of March. We are hoping for another good performance that will push us further up the ranks and closer to the Top 40 golf courses in South Africa.

WRosh Schoeman

oodhill CC performed well in overall rounds, finishing the financial year just over 39 600 rounds of golf. This is confirmation that the club is very popular among the players in Pretoria East and remains one of the best clubs to visit in Gauteng.

The golf team is excited for 2024 and will be here to welcome you on your next golf outing.

Becomeamemberofthe WoodhillFamilywithaGolfMembership!

Our golf course is beautiful and designed to offer you the best golf game ever. Rated # 50 in the SA Top 100 golf courses.

Woodhill is also home to:

Wanna Be A Champion for lessons, The Golf Lab for science behind your swing and The Pro Shop to cater for your golf gear.

Become a member now:

https://woodhillestate.co.za/golf/

Official Dress Code

Recognised golf shoes are compulsory. No golf sandals. Long trousers, slacks, but no denims/jeans. Shorts with zip and belt eyes, no athletic/rugby type shorts with strings. Short socks predominantly. Recognized golf shirts with collars, no t-shirts.

No golf sandals.

• Long trousers, slacks or bermuda shorts.

• Recognized golf shirts with collars, no t-shirts.

Course News

The Course Superintendent, Hugo van den Berg resigned after 8½ years of dedicated service. We wish Hugo well with his future endeavours and thank him for all he has done for Woodhill. We are working on finding a world class replacement for our Course Superintendent.

We have embarked on a critical assessment of the golf course so as to ensure we achieve the higher standards we aspire to. To this end, there is a detailed plan of action to address immediate pressing challenges.

These include:

• Greens patches – purchase in instant bent lawn replacement immediately for all patches. Additional plans in place to fertilise and address burnt / stressed patches.

• Gardens – employ an additional 6 casuals to weed gardens, trim edges and general tidying up.

• Laser level tee boxes

1. Critical Yellow / White / Blue tees started middle February.

2. Red tees to be done after Ladies / Junior Club Champs.

• Overhanging trees across the entire golf course – immediate team to trim and clean up.

• Indigenous areas – total tidy up with casuals and golf course team, immediately, including removing kikuyu around edges, cutting edges etc.

• “Os Gras” program – all of these weeds are to be treated / dabbed, cut, removed across the entire golf course but with a critical program for this weed encroaching on tee boxes, fairways, cart paths, and greens.

• Kikuyu in greens and encroaching in cut line – immediately remove, and tidy up.

• Tree bowls – cut long grass around all tree bowls through the green.

• Bunkers – immediate plan to address, loosen soil, replace soil in some bunkers.

We have spent a great deal of money this past financial year purchasing the latest equipment to assist in improving the condition of our golf course.

The above list is not exhaustive and you can rest assured the golf course is receiving high focus from everyone involved.

We appreciate any and all feedback from our members so as to continually improve and ensure all have a great golfing experience at Woodhill.

Acting Course Superintendent

AMatthew Chrystal

s the seasons start to change to hopefully cooler weather, we start to tackle areas on the golf course that became an eye-sore. Gardens have started to be cleaned and neatened up. Veld areas are being cut down and all the invasive trees and weeds will be tackled once the cutting has been completed.

The damaged greens have been sodded out and replaced with the grass from the small putting green. The small putting green will be reshaped with a much gentler slope, and not a severe one.

The path behind the paddle courts is being reestablished and we are happy to announce that all the irrigation problems have been resolved.

Going forward throughout the rest of the year, we will be pushing to be on top of the tree pruning program. This needs to be done to improve the growth of the trees and grass areas underneath. More light will help grow grasses and no more branches hitting carts or machinery.

Keep swinging and making putts, but remember to please help by fixing your pitch marks PLUS one more and filling divots on fairways.

Ladies Club Championships

2&3March2024

Two beautiful days of showcasing Ladies Golf. Thank you so much to the Woodhill Management, Rosh Schoeman, Kim Williams and the rest of the team that made these two days so memorable.

Ladies

Junior Club Championships

The Junior Club Championships were held over the same weekend as the Ladies. It was wonderful to see so many Juniors participating in this event.

Once again thanks go to the Woodhill Management, Rosh Schoeman, Kim Williams and the rest of the team that made these two days such a success.

This golf day is held annually by the Ladies at Woodhill. The purpose of the day is to come together as a community of women golfers, not only to share a good day of golf but also to foster old and build new relationships to enhance the spirit and joy of playing the game.

t is a great platform for all potential sponsors to promote their brand awareness and share their products and services.

We would like to request a

promoting our products or in the form of

assistance. You are also welcome to exhibit your products and services on the day.

Dangers of lightning... on a golf course

Lightning poses an increased danger on a golf course and it is advisable to make sure you and your children stay safe during a lightning storm.

Here are some of the dangers associated with lightning on a golf course:

Direct Strikes: Lightning can strike people directly, leading to severe injuries or fatalities. Golfers, course maintenance workers, and spectators are all at risk.

Conductive Ground: The open layout of a golf course, with its expansive areas and minimal shelter, makes it more susceptible to lightning strikes. The lightning can travel across the ground, potentially causing injuries to individuals even if they are not directly struck.

Tall Objects: Golf courses often have tall objects such as flagpoles, trees, and lightning rods, which can attract lightning strikes. Golfers and workers near these objects are at an increased risk of being struck.

Water Hazards: Bodies of water on a golf course, can conduct electricity. Lightning can strike these water features and travel through the water, posing a danger to individuals near them.

Clubhouse and Shelters: Seeking shelter in a clubhouse or small shelter is not always safe during a lightning storm. These structures may not be properly equipped with lightning protection systems, and their proximity to electrical wiring and plumbing can increase the risk of injury or fire.

Unpredictable Nature: Lightning can be unpredictable, and storms can develop rapidly. Golfers may not have sufficient time to seek shelter, especially if they are far from the clubhouse or designated safe areas.

To mitigate the dangers of lightning on a golf course, it is essential to follow safety guidelines.

Monitor Weather Alerts: Keep an eye on weather forecasts and be aware of thunderstorm warnings. Our golf courses have weather monitoring systems in place, so listen out for the sirens.

Evacuate the Course: When thunderstorms are approaching, it is crucial to evacuate the golf course immediately. Golfers, staff, and spectators should seek shelter in a sturdy building or a designated lightning-safe area.

Wait for Safe Conditions: Wait for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before resuming play or outdoor activities.

Educate Staff and Golfers: Golf course management should educate staff and golfers about lightning safety protocols and the importance of taking lightning threats seriously.

By being aware of the dangers and following safety guidelines, the risks associated with lightning on a golf course can be minimized.

Stay safe out there!

Amazing Albatrosses

If you are golfer, you will be familiar with the term “albatross” as it means a score of three under par on a hole, but how many of us really know anything about the incredible albatross birds.

Why did we choose to write about the Albatross in this Easter edition of the De Vico?

Well, it begins with an “A” and that’s a good place to start! Plus you do not see them often, either out at sea or on the golf course.

Albatrosses do not breed on the South Africa mainland as they prefer cooler islands to the south, but sixteen species of albatrosses regularly fly to South African waters to feed. They travel all the way from remote islands near Antarctica and New Zealand.

The map below shows the general distribution of albatrosses, with the darker red confirming their preference for the southern waters.

The more common albatrosses found in the waters off South Africa are the:

1. Wandering (Snowy) Albatross which is the largest of the albatrosses and known for their magnificent wingspans,

2. Black-browed Albatross which is a medium-sized albatrosses and known for the dark markings above their eyes, giving them a distinctive appearance,

3. Yellow-nosed Albatross which has a yellow culminicorn (top of bill) and pink tip, which distinguishes it from other albatrosses, and the

4. Grey-headed Albatross which differs from the others due to its distinctive grey hood.

The map below shows the key islands for albatross sightings. The Wandering Albatross breeds on South Georgia Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Prince Edward Islands, and Macquarie Island, and feeds year-round off the Kaikoura Peninsula on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It also shows the satellite-tracking data of Wandering Albatross juveniles and non-breeding adults. Marion Island, which is famous for its research station, is one of the two Prince Edward Islands 1920 km southeast of Cape Town.

Albatrosses are fascinating and remarkable creatures due to the combination of their physical adaptations, unique behaviours, and for the way in which they deal with the challenges they encounter in their environments.

They hold ecological significance and capture the imagination of birders across the world who travel to the southern waters on pelagic excursions to view them in their natural habitats. Cape Town is well known for providing fantastic pelagic tours for birding on the ocean waters. The most productive areas are usually between 30 and 60 kilometers to the southwest of Cape Point, requiring a boat trip of up to two hours either way. Black-browed Albatross are a common sight on pelagic birding tours off Cape Town from Autumn to early Spring

Wandering (Snowy) Albatross

Black-browed Albatross

Yellow-nosed Albatross

Grey-headed Albatross

Albatrosses have the longest wingspan of any living bird.

The Wandering Albatross can have a wingspan of up to 3.4 meters (two average human males lying end to end), enabling them to cover vast distances efficiently.

Albatrosses are exceptional long-distance flyers and can travel thousands of kilometres over the open ocean, utilizing a combination of dynamic soaring and gliding techniques to cover great distances with minimal energy expenditure.

Some individual Wandering Albatrosses are known to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean three times, covering more than 120,000 km in one year.

Distances travelled each year are difficult to measure, but one banded bird was recorded as travelling 6 000 km in twelve days.

While being well known for their excellent flying skills, they are also well known for the difficulty in which they take-off and land, due to their wing span.

They can coast for several kilometres with just a single flap of the wings.

This remarkable feat is accomplished by riding ocean winds. They catch skyward drafts to carry them along, and once their wings are fully extended, they have a tendon that locks them in place, so no energy is spent to keep them outstretched. No other flying creature can match the distance travelled by an albatross without beating its wings.

Albatross are known to live well into their sixties, even reaching up to seventy years old. Scientists were pleased to discover a 63-year-old bird that was still laying eggs and raising chicks!

They are highly adapted to a life at sea, being strong and resilient birds, capable of navigating the challenging and remote conditions of the open ocean. They spend 80% of their time at sea and only visit land to breed and care for their chicks. This makes them very rare to see as when they are nesting, they choose remote islands, some of which are known to the reputable pelagic tour operators.

Albatrosses are known for forming strong, monogamous bonds with their mates, and some species mate for life, engaging in elaborate courtship rituals and often returning to the same nesting site year after year.

They breed on remote islands, away from many terrestrial predators. This isolation helps protect their nesting colonies, and their choice of nesting sites is often characterized by rocky cliffs or wind-swept islands.

They have the longest incubation period of any bird as they lay just one single egg every 2 years.. The male and female take turns feeding and guarding their chicks until it is large enough to care for itself.

They are skilled foragers, often using their keen sense of smell to locate prey on the ocean surface and primarily feed on squid and fish, contributing to the regulation of marine ecosystems.

Wandering (Snowy) Albatross

Albatrosses can sleep while flying, clocking up to 45 minutes of sleep a day as they soar across the southern oceans.

They have a unique adaptation known as “unihemispheric slowwave sleep (USWS)”, which allows one hemisphere of their brain to sleep while the other remains awake.

This adaptation enables them to rest and recharge during long flights without completely losing awareness of their surroundings or compromising their ability to fly.

They can even alternate between hemispheres to ensure both sides of the brain receive periods of sleep.

This adaptation helps them maintain vigilance for potential predators, locate food sources, and navigate across vast ocean expanses without the need for frequent and extended periods of rest on land.

While direct evidence of sleeping in flight is obviously very challenging to detect, researchers have used several approaches to gather information, but we don’t go into the details, as it is very technical.

Albatrosses are considered important indicators of the health of the oceans.

Due to their dependence on marine resources, changes in their populations can signal broader ecological issues, making them valuable for conservation monitoring.

Unfortunately, albatrosses face various threats, including fisheries bycatch, habitat destruction, and plastic pollution.

Conservation efforts are crucial to addressing these challenges and ensuring the survival of these magnificent birds. Thefigurebelow,showsthedistributionsofbreeding

“Albatrosses show us that it is okay to be different; They are one-of-a-kind and wonderful.”

The majestic Wandering (Snowy) Albatross

a fungal skin infection on the foot, especially between the toes (commonly called athletes foot or tinea pedis).

Howdoessomeonegetafungalnail infection?

Fungal nail infections are caused by many different types of fungi that live in the environment. Small cracks in your nail or the surrounding skin can allow these germs to enter your nail and cause an infection.

Perfect Nails

scissors, etc.) after each use.

Fungal nail infections can be difficult to cure, and treatment is most successful when started early. Fungal nail infections typically don’t go away on their own.

At Be-a-Lady, after years of research we have a product that will heal your infection in no time. I also treat ingrown nails and before you leave the Salon you will have no more pain.

RecipeCheffromAdrian

Ingredients:

4kg boneless Lamb roast, cut into 1cm pieces

Kosher Salt

3 cups low sodium Chicken broth

1 cup dried Apricots

3 tbsp extra virgin Olive oil

Lamb Tagine

1 medium Onion chopped

4 gloves of Garlic, sliced

2 tsp freshly minced Ginger

2 tbsp Tomato paste

1 Cinnamon stick

Small pinch of Saffron

½ tsp ground Turmeric

½ tsp ground Coriander

¼ tsp ground Cardamom

¼ tsp ground Nutmeg

¼ tsp ground Cloves

Freshly ground Pepper

¼ cup freshly chopped Cilantro, plus more for garnish

½ cup toasted Almond slivers

Torn Mint leaves for serving

Method:

1. In a large bowl, toss lamb with about 2 teaspoons of salt. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour or overnight in the refrigerator.

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring chicken broth to a boil. Remove from heat and add dried apricots. Let is sit for 15 minutes.

3. In a Tagine or Dutch oven (over medium heat), heat oil. Add lamb and cook until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Work in batches if necessary. Remove lamb from pot and place on a plate.

4. Reduce heat to medium and add onion to the pot. Cook until soft, 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more, then add tomato paste and stir until coated. Add cinnamon stick, saffron, and spices and cook until toasted, 1 minute more.

5. Add lamb, apricots, and broth to pot and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer, covered, until lamb is tender and liquid is reduced, about 1½ hours.

6. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Garnish with toasted almonds, mint, and more cilantro. Serve over warm couscous.

Demystifying Rental Income Tax

AGUIDEFORSOUTHAFRICANPROPERTYOWNERS

March1,2024

BySheldeneduPlessis SeniorAccountant:AscendantFinancialServices

Renting out residential accommodation in South Africa can be a lucrative venture, but it comes with tax obligations that property owners need to understand.

In this guide, we will explore how rental income is taxed, the permissible expenses that can be deducted, and provide a checklist of essential documents to keep for tax season.

TaxationofRentalIncome

Any income received from renting out residential properties, including holiday homes, bed-andbreakfast establishments and dwelling houses, is subject to income tax as per the South African Revenue Service.

This also applies to additional amounts received for the rental, such as lease premiums.

CalculationofTaxonRentalIncome

Rental income is added to any other income the property owner may have but is reduced by certain permissible expenses.

Lease premiums, when received, are subject to tax in the year of assessment during which they accrue or are received. Rental deposits need not be included in gross income initially but become taxable when eventually applied by the lessor.

PermissibleExpenses

To determine the taxable rental income, property owners can deduct permissible expenses incurred during the period the property was let.

Examples of allowable expenses include rates and taxes, bond interest, agency fees, insurance (excluding household contents or bond insurance), garden services, repairs, and security or property levies.

ChecklistforDocuments

To streamline the tax filing process, property owners should keep the following documents on file throughout the year:

1. Monthly rates and taxes statements

2. Monthly bank statements of home loans

3. Levy or homeowners association statements

4. Homeowners insurance documentation

5. Utility bills included in the rental income

6. Advertising invoices or agency fee statements

7. Slips and invoices for repairs (e.g. burst geysers)

8. Records of garden services or other necessary services to make the property rentable

ExpensesNotAllowed

Capital expenses or those not related to the production of rental income are not deductible. These include costs for property improvements, which should be distinguished from repairs and maintenance. Repairs and maintenance costs are allowed deductions when restoring an asset to its original condition due to damage or deterioration.

ExceedingRentalIncomewithExpenses

If permissible expenses exceed rental income, the resulting loss can be set off against other income earned by the individual. This provides a potential tax benefit for property owners facing a net loss on their rental investment.

Conclusion

Understanding the tax implications of rental income is crucial for property owners in South Africa. By keeping accurate records, deducting permissible expenses and staying informed about tax regulations, property owners can ensure compliance with SARS requirements and maximize their tax benefits. For more detailed information and personalised advice, property owners are encouraged to refer to SARS resources.

If you find the process daunting, remember that professional help is just a call away, always ready to assist you in making the most of your financial opportunities.

Contact one of our tax practitioners at Ascendant Financial Services for a one-on-one consultation to assist in tax planning and income tax submissions.

https://www.midcity.co.za/

Fun Page

MAZE

Find the path for the boy to reach the pile of leaves!

LEAVES

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WORD SEARCH

LEAVES ORANGE

PEARS

SQUIRREL SEASON

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COLORFULCHANGING ORANGE BROWN PEARS PUMPKIN

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, you need to fill in the empty cells with numbers from 1 to 9. The goal is to ensure that each row, each column, and each 3x3 box contains all the numbers from 1 to 9 without any repetitions.

YELLOW COLORFUL HARVEST RED CHANGING BROWN PUMPKIN

SUDOKU Hard

Make your mark!

2024SouthAfricangeneralelection

General elections will be held in South Africa on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.

This will be to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province.

These will be the seventh general election held under the conditions of universal adult suffrage since the end of the apartheid era in 1994. The new National Council of Provinces will be elected at the first sitting of each provincial legislature. Ever since the first post-apartheid election in 1994, the African National Congress has held a majority of seats in the National Assembly. Currently

400 seats in the National Assembly is held as follows: